LINCOLN, Neb. – The Kansas City T-Bones were three outs away from taking game one of a crucial three-game series with the Lincoln SaltDogs Tuesday night at Haymarket Park. The T-Bones got out number 25, but the last two outs alluded Kansas City as Lincoln rallied, scoring two runs with the ball never leaving the infield.

Grant Sides was brought into the game in the bottom of the ninth with Kansas City holding on to a 5-4 lead. Brandon Jacobs reached base on an infield single, but Sides was able to strike out Curt Smith for the first out. Tommy Mendoca would reach base being hit by a Sides pitch to put runners at first and second.

Cesar Valera would tap a two hopper toward the third base side of the mound that Sides tried to field but let roll throw his legs for an error to load the bases. The next batter, Randolph Oduber, would hit a slow roller toward the right side of the plate that Sides fielded as Jacobs raced home to tie the game. Sides then elected to throw the ball to catcher Tony Caldwell instead of to first. The ball went over Caldwell’s head, scoring the winning run, and Ivan Marin and the SaltDogs won it 6-5.

Early in the night Kansas City looked like they would be set to take the opener, building a 5-0 lead in the first two innings. Kyle Petty hit a grand slam home run off of Lincoln starter Derek Gordon in the first to take a 4-0 lead. 

The T-Bones looked to have Gordon on the ropes in the second, when Omar Garcia drove in the fifth run with two more runners on behind that RBI with only one out. But Gordon settled down and would wind up tossing a complete game and getting the win in the end. 

Lincoln would score four in the third off of T-Bones starter Matt Sergey with Trever Adams hitting a solo home run and Curt Smithhitting a two-run homer to make it 5-3. Lincoln would go back-to-back with a Tommy Mendonca home run, and it made the score 5-4.

The clubs remained quiet offensively until the home half of the ninth when Lincoln pulled off the comeback. Sides was charged with the loss (1-1) while Gordon (2-2) was the winner. Matt Sergey did strike out six in 5 2/3 innings for Kansas City. 

The two teams will play game two of the three game series Wednesday night with the first pitch scheduled for 6:45 pm. Lincoln ace RHP Carlos Pimentel (5-0, 2.60) will get the nod for the SaltDogs, while the T-Bones will turn to RHP Calvin Drummond (2-1, 4.17).

The T-Bones return home Monday, July 3^rd to face Sioux Falls in the first game of a three-game series and a seven-game homestand. For additional information or interview requests, members of the media may contact the T-Bones Media Relations Department at 913-328-5639. Tickets are available online, by calling (913) 328-5618 or by visiting in person the Providence Medical Center Box Office.

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